Factors affecting rate of reaction
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Intros
Examples
Lessons
- Apply knowledge of factors affecting reaction rate to chemical reactions.
The reaction between sodium hydroxide, NaOH, and hydrogen chloride, HCl, is shown below:
- Hydrogen chloride has a boiling point of -85°C and sodium hydroxide has a melting point of 318°C. Give a reason why this reaction is very slow with the reactants in their neutral state at room temperature.
- What change could a chemist make to increase the rate of this reaction? Explain why this change increases the rate of reaction.
- Apply knowledge of factors affecting reaction rate to chemical reactions.
The decomposition of aqueous hydrogen peroxide is shown in the equation below. This reaction occurs at room temperature by itself but is slow:
- The rate of this reaction is increased dramatically by adding potassium iodide, KI, to the reaction vessel. Potassium iodide is not used in the reaction. What is the role of potassium iodide?
- Explain, in terms of activation energy, why adding potassium iodide speeds the reaction up.
i) Explain, in terms of activation energy, why adding potassium iodide speeds the reaction up.
ii) What else in the equation suggests a generally quicker rate of reaction?
- Apply knowledge of factors affecting reaction rate to chemical reactions.
From the reactions listed below, identify which are homogeneous and compare their relative rates of reaction.
i)
ii)
iii)